Omarosa Manigault Opens Up About Coping With Michael Clarke Duncan’s Death

Reality star Omarosa Manigault is making her return to the television series that made her a pop culture phenomenon and, much like before, she’s out for blood.

The 39-year-old personality recently sat down with ESSENCE.com to discuss the new season of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice, stating that she still has her “knives sharpened” for the 14-contestant competition that boasts a prize of $250,000 to the charity of her choice. Manigault has chosen the Sue Duncan Children’s Center in honor of her late fiancé, actor Michael Clarke Duncan.

The gentle giant passed away last September just two months after suffering a heart attack and Manigault sees this as a way to keep his legacy alive.

“When you look at what’s going on in [Chicago], I think the center’s mission is vital. My fiancé, the late Michael Clarke Duncan, is an alumni, but he’s not related to Sue Duncan,” she said. “The 200-plus children that they’re serving at the center literally need every dollar I raise. Michael and I have made sure to make contributions to the center over the years so I wanted to keep that going.”

Manigault said she is dealing with the loss of Duncan by trusting in God and finding her own way to welcome closure.

“I’m still in our home. Michael’s toothbrush is still in our bathroom; his jacket is still hanging on the hook,” she explained. “I live with the presence of Michael Clarke Duncan every day because everything is as he left it. I need time to decide to put away the toothbrush, or fold up the clothes that he threw over the back of the chair. But I haven’t done that and that’s my process of grieving.”

She continued, “It’s unbelievable at times. I miss him every single day. It doesn’t get better, but you get better. So I’m working on getting better.”

Read all about Manigault’s thoughts on the new Apprentice (premiering March 3), her journey as an ordained minister and more over at ESSENCE.com!